Hurry!

So this morning I'm reading from Exodus, end of chapter 5 and into 6.
Basically, Moses says to God: "Ever since I spoke your name there has been trouble and you have not rescued your people at all."
God's answer is this: "I am and I will."
"I am the Lord."
"I will...bring you out, free you, redeem you, take you as my own, be your God."
And I thought - how my time table is not the same as God's. I want things done now. I'm in "hurry mode" and if something should be done, well, yesterday is when it should have been done...And that impacts my relationship with God.
"How long?" It's like I know what God wants to do, or can do, and yet - why not yet?
And today I'm reminded that God's promise stands strong.
God is. And he knows. He cares. He can. And He will.
For you too.

I Am Shaq

So, I finish today's run, and I'm walking up to the house with my sunglasses, headband - I'm not the coolest cube in the tray...
And these little kids - 3 boys all about 11 years old, are playing basketball in their driveway (across the street from me).
I say something about them playing a game, and they say they don't have enough players. I say "Oh, okay - I'll play for just a few minutes."
We make introductions - and I am very careful to say "My name is Mark"...
They're dinky little guys, the rim is 8 1/2 feet high - and these little boys never call me "Mark". Instead, the talkative littlest one (he's now my opponent) just keeps referring to me as "Shaq". He never actually talks to me. Just about me. Like I'm not there. I miss a dunk and he hollers "Shaq misses the wide open dunk!"
Mocked by a 6th grader.
By the way - my team won.

Call Me Jacob

Whenever I've preached about Jacob (the Bible dude), I've portrayed him as a "deceiver" (that's what his name means) - who pulls a lot of shady deals to get what he wants. I always thought he was kind of the booger of the two brothers.
But recently, I've started seeing a different side of him.
I find my heart has begun to connect with him, in a way.
I like his "wrestling" scene with God: he wrestles God for a blessing. He wants God's blessing so bad that we won't let go. God finally gives him his blessing.
Lately - I've found myself praying for a blessing from God. God has given me so much: an incredible home - a super city/community - a wonderful church to serve.
We're very comfortable and happy. All of those things that one wants: we have.
But I've been praying that God will bless us with new believers at our church.
Lot's of them.
I've been to every section in the hospital, and my favorite is the maternity ward. That always makes me smile.
And so, the DF prayer focus I'm on right now - is the Jacobizing of Mark.
I've been praying hard for focus for our church. And I won't let go. Until He answers...and then - I still won't let go.